HI Folks! I just wanted to shout out to all my new followers and anyone who regularly likes my work. You do know who you are. This is the first chapter of a new multi-chapter after 8x16 and its aftermath. Let me know what you think. Thank you-Carebearmaxi

Loving Each Other Out Loud

Harvey lay in his big king size bed as he feels a warm hand clasped around his chest. It had been only three days since he had come to Donna's door and he had let it be known he was through with running away from how much in love with her he is. He puts his own hand over Donna's and feels her exhale and lay a kiss on the back of his neck. He feels so warm and loved, and he has never been so happy or contented. The firm, however, is now in a precarious state of stability because of Zane's disbarment. Harvey no longer cared that much. He was grateful to Robert for making such a sacrifice for him and saving his butt and Donna's; however, Harvey had a real life to focus on now. So for just a few more minutes he wanted to stay in the little cocoon he and Donna have spun for themselves.

The alarm on Donna's phone sounded. A little Dixieland Jazz uptune that Donna would be the only one who could awaken with such an inane tune.

"Donna, please turn that off," Harvey said sleepily as he turned over and reached for her as she reached for the phone on her side of the bed. Harvey slept on the right and Donna slept on the left. They had fallen into it naturally since they had spent their first night at Donna's apartment in her king size bed. Just another uncanny reason why they fit together so well. Harvey liked the right and Donna grativated to the left. Most of the time, though, they migrated during the night into the middle so they could still touch each other lending a reassurance that this was their new "normal" of sleeping and waking together.

"Got it," Donna said as she lay back down with her phone seeing the latest panicked text from Louis.

"What'cha lookin' at, gorgeous?" Harvey said as he propped his sleepy head on one bent elbow. He could see Donna's face was scrunched up as she squinted at the phone.

"Nothing, handsome," Donna said as she leaned over and kissed him on the lips. "Just Louis venting about some client who wants to drop us for "no confidence". He thinks I can work a miracle and he decided at five a.m. that this was the text I was waiting to receive."

"Put it down and come over here," Harvey said taking her phone and placing it on his side of the bed.

"Harvey, come on, we have to go and help Louis. Our firm needs us," Donna said reaching for her phone but as she did Harvey grabbed her wrist and linked their fingers and kissed them.

"Louis can wait."

"No he can't," Donna said as Harvey enveloped her in his arms and as she came to lie on top of him she tried to snatch the phone from Harveys' nightstand. He quickly broke their kiss and murmured a "no-no" and playfully wrestled her to her side of the bed. He lay on top of her between her silk covered thighs liking the feel his hips right there. He had her phone behind his back and kept moving it while Donna was pinned under him trying to reach it.

"No-no, Ms COO, not right now...this senior partner needs some more lovin..." Harvey kissed her. While Donna deepened the kiss and could feel Harvey's arousal, she quickly snatched her phone back and then broke the kiss.

"Off me, lover boy, we have to go to work or there won't be work to go to anymore. Then how are we going to continue to live in the way to which we have become accustomed?"

As Harvey moved off her and let her go reluctantly. He sighed and said, "Well, I could always run for D.A. and you could be my secretary again." Harvey smirked at her raising an eyebrow.

Donna threw a pillow at him which had fallen from the bed. "Not on your life, mister. Get your ass out of bed! This is your COO speaking."

"I love it when you pull rank on me," Harvey said as he scooted out of the bed himself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They managed to arrive at the firm an hour later at 8 a.m. When the elevator arrived on the 50th floor, they dropped their hands which had been linked since they had walked into the building together. It had been like that the last three days. It was now Friday and both were happy that they would have all weekend to spend in their love bubble. If they were able to, though, because it seemed that Louis had other plans. Necessary plans if Donna and Harvey still wanted a firm.

Louis met them at the elevator. He gave one of his sarcastic laughs as he met them. He had not done that for a very long time. Louis had become a much better person in the last few years. Once he was jealous of Harvey and how easily things came to him. However, in the last few years Harvey had been suffering many close calls and suffered losses; yet these events had made Harvey more accessible and more human. Louis had also finally felt accepted who he was and not always the butt of everyone's jokes. Louis had a life outside with Sheila and their coming child; so the inside world at the firm did not seem as important. It was, but Louis, growing into a capable Managing Parnter, could live with things when they went sideways and knew that he could count on his fellow firm family members to help him correct those wrongs.

Such was his mission now as he stared at Harvey and Donna coming off the elevator together for the third day in a row.

"You know, Donna. This the third day that you and Harvey have arrived at the same time. Despite all the hell that has just happened endangering the firm, you two look calm as cucumbers, and Donna you are positively glowing. Going that well with Thomas, I guess, after all the recent headache that your little relationship has just put us through. I do expect you to report on time at 7:30 am!"

"Louis!" Harvey exclaimed. He was about to take the guy out physically to make him calm down, but Donna stayed his hand.

"It's ok, Harvey. He's just blowing off steam," she whispered.

Louis finally shut up of his own accord. " Ok, enough with the chitchat, I need you both in a partners' meeting in five minutes." Louis then turned on his heel like a soldier and stomped off to prepare for the partners' meeting.

Donna and Harvey stared at one another before they both started in the direction of their offices.

"Maybe we should at least let him know we've been together the last three nights," Harvey side whispered as he looked both ways and took Donna's hand in his as they walked side by side.

"No. I don't think now is a good time. Remember this is Louis. I know he would really be happy for us in the long run, but I don't think we need add pressure to the poor man. Remember it's my fault he's managing partner and my fault indirectly for Robert's disbarment," Donna whispered sadly back as she squeezed Harvey's hand in return.

They arrived at Donna's office. Harvey took an extra second holding Donna's hand. He wanted to reassure her that coercing Louis into managing partner had been a good move. Telling Thomas about the problem with his deal was not. Harvey did not need to reiterate that. He just wanted to reassure her that he knew why she did things and it was always within the reasons of protecting him or the firm. It seemed to her that he was the firm and to him she was the firm because he could never bare to be without her here anymore.

Looking back and forth to make sure no one was looking he kissed Donna at the door of her office. As he did this a voice behind Harvey said, "Caught you..."

Harvey broke off the kiss and looked at Samantha.

"So, it's our firm, I want to kiss my girlfriend goodbye..."

"Harvey," Donna said rolling her eyes. She smirked at Samantha and then still smiling up at Harvey said in a soft seductive tone. "As much as I want you stand here kissing me all day, I think I can survive until later. Love you so much, " Donna whispered as Harvey came closer. Harvey smiled and kissed her again. By this point Samantha had smiled and moved down the hall to the conference room.

Samantha looked behind her as she noticed Harvey bend in for one more kiss. "Good for them. Someone needs to be happy." The other night while Samantha and Harvey had been having a heart-to-heart talk regarding Robert's departure and how it impacted Samantha Harvey had excused himself and practically ran from her office to an unknown destination. However, the next day both Harvey and Donna had come into the office at 10:00 a.m. both looking soft and happy as any two people in love could be.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So spill, Donna, where were you yesterday? I heard you didn't show up at the hearing." Samantha said starting to probe.

Donna sighed and took a seat. They were in the associates kitchen getting some much needed liquid fortifier. Samantha finished putting cream and sugar into her coffee and turned around leaning on the counter.

Donna took a sip of her coffee and said, "Well, I just decided I couldn't bear to see Harvey get his license taken away because of me. I know that sounds cowardly, but I just had hoped that Harvey would understand. Then Louis called me and told me Robert saved Harvey that humiliation by taking the blame. I don't understand, but I'm grateful."

Samantha was wont to be resentful and keep a grudge against her newfound friends, but after alleviating her thoughts to Harvey the previous night and having listened to the reason why Robert felt he needed to do this Samantha could not help but feel that if Robert thought it was ok then it was ok. Samantha was beginning to feel like part of the family especially after the drinks with Harvey, dinner with Alex and his wife, and drinks with Donna, Gretchen, and Katrina. She was able to surmise where Harvey had fled and then everything confirmed that morning as Harvey and Donna walked off the elevator together hand-in-hand.

Donna had suddenly asked, "Did Robert explain why he felt he needed to make himself the scapegoat?"

Samantha took a sip of her hot beverage and looked down contemplative for a minute. She then sighed heavily, Samantha raised her head and looked at Donna, "He said it was because of some some old situation where he felt he had done the wrong thing and this made up for it in his mind."

"You accepted that?" Donna asked knowing full well that Samantha probably kicked and clawed with Robert rebelling against why he had done what he had done and if she would ever be able to feel at home here without him.

"I had to, Donna. The deed had already been done by the time I found out." Samantha took another sip and then gesturing.

"Now enough about Robert and me. What's going on with you and Harvey? It didn't take a psychiatrist to know you two came off that elevator like you were floating in heaven. Did Harvey come to you last night?"

Donna smiled and lowered her eyes. She wondered if she could confide in Samantha. She sure missed Rachel at these times. However, right now, Donna was not sure if Rachel would be happy for her and Harvey or resentful for the path her father had decided to tread.

"I'm not saying he did and I'm not not saying he did," Donna smiled taking a sip of her vanilla splashed coffee.

"Yeah, he did. I have never seen two people look at each other the way you two have. I am happy for you and him. It didn't take me long to see how he looks at you and how you look at him. The tension between you two is palpable. That's all I'm going to say. I'll see you later, Donna," Samantha said as she stood straight and began to walk back to her office. Before she got to the exit she turned and looked at Donna one more time.

"By the way, I can keep a secret if that's the way you want to play for now, but you two have got to stop the eyesex from across the room and the stolen kisses if you want no one else to suspect. I am happy for you, Donna. I can see how much you love him and he loves you, too."

Samantha winked and left the room.

Donna just sat there relieved that Samantha had accepted her new relationship to Harvey. Donna now had validation for the statement that Scottie had made to her only a couple of weeks ago. "Someday, I hope he sees what everyone else sees."

Harvey walked into the conference room and taken his seat at the right of Louis who had begun to bellow at the top of his lungs. Louis was in panic mode as his early text to Donna had indicated. Samantha sat across from him, Donna next to her, and Alex was next to him. Katrina, the newest senior partner was further down the table and sprinkled in were other senior partners who had stood steadfast during the upheavals in the last three years. Three of them had even sat through when Mike had been arrested and had remained through Jessica's departure.

Since Louis had become Managing Partner calm had returned to Zane Specter Litt Wheeler Williams which had not been for a few years now. However, Robert's disgraceful disbarring had jarred most of the senior managers' stability. Harvey looked across at Donna who was absolutely breathtaking in her black suit dress with the crystal button crisscrossing her waist closing the jacket. Harvey was dreaming of her body the last three nights under his as she writhed and moaned his name...

"Harvey!" Louis bellowed. "What did you think? Could this be something you could promote?"

Donna lowered her eyes and smiled. She knew why Louis had to bring Harvey back to the meeting. The same reason why she had started to drift but was able to pull the mask on a little better now having been able to practice it a little more than he had. She could feel every part of his body against hers as he thrust into her. She could feel his back muscles and his strong round buttocks as she pushed him closer into her. She wanted to absorb all of him...

"Donna!" Louis now bellowed at her. "Take that idea we mentioned earlier. I know the two main bankers who handle our account and with whom they handle for us. I need to make a comprehensive financial view before some other decision need be made. Got it?"

"Yes, Louis," was all Donna could venture. If she looked across at Harvey she would start giggling like a schoolgirl. That would definitely set Harvey off and then the whole world would intrude in their little love bubble they wanted to maintain for themselves.

"Meeting is adjourned," Louis stated almost making a motion like a judge with a gavel. Harvey waited until he could accompany Donna back to her office on the official business of saving the firm yet again but on unofficial business of stealing a kiss or just to be with each other before the rest of the day continued.

"Harvey we have to talk about this," Donna said gesturing in a circle with her raised forefinger.

"You mean the fact that all I wanted to do was to make love to you on that table not caring if Louis or the whole goddamn world looked."

Donna smiled and squeezed his face with one hand. "Oh, my God, you do things to me, Specter." Donna walked into her office barely able to maintain a hold on the rumblings in her stomach and the fever lower down beginning to raise.

"Seriously, Harvey, we need to focus on this presentation to the group of bankers at First Federal who had wanted us to handle their legal matters until the Journal posted about the hearing and Robert's disbarment the other day."

"Donna, I realize that I do have a knack for negotiating but these are bankers and I can't stand dealing with them."

"Harvey, Louis would do it but he knows that you are the best one for the job. Come on best closer in Manhattan what's wrong? Couldn't be a lack of confidence...or is it?"

"Not exactly. I just have had such a bad run lately that I guess I am doubting myself."

Harvey had taken a seat in front of Donna's desk on one of the empty chairs. She had come back around to her chair behind the desk. However, she did see doubt in Harvey's eyes. It was one of the first times she had noted a spot of vulnerability when it came to work. He always knew how to handle any situation.

She took the other seat in front of her desk across from Harvey and bent down taking his hand in hers.

"This last obstacle was of my doing. Not yours. Louis would never have given you the assignment if he did not think you were the one to close the deal. I know this is going to be difficult but if it works we will have a surefire method of having our other customers stick with us and there's no one who can close a deal like "Harvey Goddamn Specter".

"Thanks, Donna. I guess I just needed to hear you say it. Let's get to work."